Smart grid orchestration as an energy efficiency tool

Jovan Vujasinovic, CEO of VF Holding, sees smart grid orchestration as key to providing efficient and reliable energy: “It means managing the entire network in a smart and connected way.

“This helps balance supply and demand, respond to faults automatically and bring in more clean energy, all leading to better service and less energy waste,” explained Vujasinovich.

A session moderator at Enlit Africa 2025, Vujasinovich has leveraged his background as a researcher to start a smart metering solutions company that encompasses services as well as a start-up component.

He sees digitalisation is an important step on the electricity journey: “Without digitalisation, we can’t achieve decarbonisation, decentralisation and other objectives.” This is why he urges African countries to get started with smart metering rollout programmes as quickly as they can.

Vujasinovic says countries across Africa could take a lesson out of Europe’s rollout programmes when considering how their utilities will implement smart metering.

“Standardisation, local adaptation and cross-sector partnerships, especially public-private ones, are key to success. So, with smart technologies and strong co-operations, countries can expand energy access, offer flexible payment options and deliver better service to customers.”

Ultimately, he see the key is around customer service and how smart solutions make that happen – whether it is through timeous, accurate billing or giving the customer more transparency about their electricity usage.

Find out more about what Vujasinovich recommends as a good way to find funding for large-scale smart metering programmes that benefit both customer and utility.

Cover photo:  Technician checking electricity use manually. Source: andreypopov©123rf